Maybe Phil Jackson is trying a new approach to winning in the NBA, one that doesn’t rely on having all those pesky, unpredictable things like, you know, players.

The New York Knicks on Wednesday waived all three players they acquired in their three-way trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma City Thunder, according to Jonah Ballow, the team’s multimedia content creator. So long, Lance Thomas, Lou Amundsen and Alex Kirk. New Yorkers will miss you. (OK, they really won’t.)

The move wasn’t altogether surprising, but it was revealing. As a result of sending J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cavs, the Knicks now have only the protected first-round draft pick they received from OKC in the deal. That’s a gross loss of five players with no additions.

New York (5-32) owns the worst record in the NBA and travels to take on the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night.